Well I guess that I will begin by introducing myself. My name is Jenn Heckman and I am really happy to be here in the Education program at Saint Thomas this year! I completed my undergraduate degree at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, and I guess that's where my love affair with the east coast began. Originally I am from Ottawa, Ontario but I am hoping to initiate a reversal to the current east-to-west demographic trend by settling somewhere out here on the shores of the Atlantic.
In my second year at Mount A I was lucky enough to stumble across the Geography department where I discovered the wonders of learning about the relationship between humans and the environment. I can't imagine a more interesting, diverse and engaging area of study for me. In addition to my honors in Geography I was also able to work towards getting a minor in Environmental Studies, obviously both a relevant and important topic in today's day and age. There is also a wonderful sense of community and student fostered at Mount Allison which most definitely helped to shape me into the person that I am today. I had the opportunity to be involved in everything from the club rugby program, a sustainable residence initiative, Habitat for Humanity, Rights and Democracy, intramural leagues and a number of community oriented committees. I think that Mount A's slogan is something about education for the whole person, and I can definitely attest that this was most definitely my experience as a Mountie!
It is great that you are asking us to share our interests with you... sometimes it feels as though we are "just another student" and that the possibility of an actual rapport with a teacher is taken away because they have no back story on what makes you - you! There are lots of things that I am really passionate about in my life. I have a real love for the outdoors, I grew up spending my summers in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec paddling, hiking and exploring the forests, rivers and lakes of this part of Canada. This love of the outdoors also translates to the beaches of the east coast, a perfect day for me would definitely involve a sunset and swim in the waters of the Atlantic. Travel is also a growing passion for me. I have been bitten by the travel bug and I am anxiously awaiting my next adventure. So far I have only been to European countries and the Caribbean but in the near future I hope to make my way to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, more of Europe.... okay so basically everywhere. In terms of more day-to-day interests I really love cooking and also reading books. Buying books is actually kind of a problem for me as I have am in a bit of a nomadic phase of my life and books aren't exactly the lightest luggage to haul around, but I continue to buy them and continue to love them! If you are looking for a good read I would definitely recommend 'Three Cups of Tea ' by Greg Mortenson, it is an amazing book about how an unexpected turn in the path (literally) put Mr. Mortenson in a role, as an advocate for education in a troubled part of the world. My whole family has read this story and we have all really enjoyed it!
Realistically, I think that once I have completed (fingers-crossed) this Education degree I will go abroad for a while to teach. However, in a Canadian context I would like to teach high school Social Studies. I really love the Social Studies because there is such great application for knowledge outside of the classroom in "real life". I think that Social Studies has the capacity to shape students into responsible citizens and also to show them ways that they can make change in the world.
I really like technology a lot! I like trying to figure things out and working to learn new skills through trial and error. I just got a MacBook before school started and so far I think that I have faired quite well. My main uses for the computer is for word processing, internet surfing/ email etc, I also have done a lot of work with slideshows and some basic webpage design. I am pretty excited about this course because I really love the role that computers and other forms of technology can play in the classroom I think that it reaches out to students in a way unprecedented by any other medium.
Hopefully you don't have too many more of these to read! Thanks for reading along! See you in class.
Jenn
"Other letters simply relate the small events that punctuate the passage of time: roses picked at dusk, the laziness of a rainy Sunday afternoon, a child crying himself to sleep. Capturing the moment, these small slices of life, these gusts of happiness, move me more deeply than all the rest. A couple of lines or eight pages, a Middle Eastern stamp or a suburban postmark...I hoard all these letters like treasure. One day I hope to fasten them end to end in a half mile streamer, to float in the wind like a banner raised to the glory of friendship." ( Jean-Dominique Bauby)
Hello and Welcome!
Well I guess that I will begin by introducing myself. My name is Jenn Heckman and I am really happy to be here in the Education program at Saint Thomas this year! I completed my undergraduate degree at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, and I guess that's where my love affair with the east coast began. Originally I am from Ottawa, Ontario but I am hoping to initiate a reversal to the current east-to-west demographic trend by settling somewhere out here on the shores of the Atlantic.
In my second year at Mount A I was lucky enough to stumble across the Geography department where I discovered the wonders of learning about the relationship between humans and the environment. I can't imagine a more interesting, diverse and engaging area of study for me. In addition to my honors in Geography I was also able to work towards getting a minor in Environmental Studies, obviously both a relevant and important topic in today's day and age. There is also a wonderful sense of community and student fostered at Mount Allison which most definitely helped to shape me into the person that I am today. I had the opportunity to be involved in everything from the club rugby program, a sustainable residence initiative, Habitat for Humanity, Rights and Democracy, intramural leagues and a number of community oriented committees. I think that Mount A's slogan is something about education for the whole person, and I can definitely attest that this was most definitely my experience as a Mountie!
It is great that you are asking us to share our interests with you... sometimes it feels as though we are "just another student" and that the possibility of an actual rapport with a teacher is taken away because they have no back story on what makes you - you! There are lots of things that I am really passionate about in my life. I have a real love for the outdoors, I grew up spending my summers in the Gatineau Hills of Quebec paddling, hiking and exploring the forests, rivers and lakes of this part of Canada. This love of the outdoors also translates to the beaches of the east coast, a perfect day for me would definitely involve a sunset and swim in the waters of the Atlantic. Travel is also a growing passion for me. I have been bitten by the travel bug and I am anxiously awaiting my next adventure. So far I have only been to European countries and the Caribbean but in the near future I hope to make my way to Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, more of Europe.... okay so basically everywhere. In terms of more day-to-day interests I really love cooking and also reading books. Buying books is actually kind of a problem for me as I have am in a bit of a nomadic phase of my life and books aren't exactly the lightest luggage to haul around, but I continue to buy them and continue to love them! If you are looking for a good read I would definitely recommend 'Three Cups of Tea ' by Greg Mortenson, it is an amazing book about how an unexpected turn in the path (literally) put Mr. Mortenson in a role, as an advocate for education in a troubled part of the world. My whole family has read this story and we have all really enjoyed it!
Realistically, I think that once I have completed (fingers-crossed) this Education degree I will go abroad for a while to teach. However, in a Canadian context I would like to teach high school Social Studies. I really love the Social Studies because there is such great application for knowledge outside of the classroom in "real life". I think that Social Studies has the capacity to shape students into responsible citizens and also to show them ways that they can make change in the world.
I really like technology a lot! I like trying to figure things out and working to learn new skills through trial and error. I just got a MacBook before school started and so far I think that I have faired quite well. My main uses for the computer is for word processing, internet surfing/ email etc, I also have done a lot of work with slideshows and some basic webpage design. I am pretty excited about this course because I really love the role that computers and other forms of technology can play in the classroom I think that it reaches out to students in a way unprecedented by any other medium.
Hopefully you don't have too many more of these to read! Thanks for reading along! See you in class.
Jenn
"Other letters simply relate the small events that punctuate the passage of time: roses picked at dusk, the laziness of a rainy Sunday afternoon, a child crying himself to sleep. Capturing the moment, these small slices of life, these gusts of happiness, move me more deeply than all the rest. A couple of lines or eight pages, a Middle Eastern stamp or a suburban postmark...I hoard all these letters like treasure. One day I hope to fasten them end to end in a half mile streamer, to float in the wind like a banner raised to the glory of friendship." ( Jean-Dominique Bauby)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkhUR5VdZRk